The 'brownness' of your frosting will depend on whether you use cocoa or melted chocolate, and how much you use. Generally, cocoa will give a darker color to most frostings, while melted chocolate will be a lighter brown.

Licia, We just called it 'yellow' cake - or vanilla cake - that's what i remember growing up in PA. I never heard of 'chocolate cake' being a yellow cake w/chocolate frosting til I married into a Southern family!

So what do you call a yellow cake with white frosting and coconut? or a yellow cake with lemon frosting?...etc? BTW, I love seeing your recipes and use them as often as possible.

I guess you would call it a coconut cake and a lemon cake!!!
I always called it a plain cake with coconut, lemon or chocolate frosting. If it was a white cake, it was called a white cake with chocolate, lemon, or coconut frosting.

I'm pretty positive that Devil's food cake must be DARK chocolate cake. But I'm wondering about the other cakes out there. Besides the coloring, does anyone know the flavorings or ingredients are there that define the difference between:
Yellow Cake
White Cake
Red Velvet Cake
Carrot Cake (I KNOW it isn't carrot flavored)
German Chocolate Cake
All American Chocolate Cake

I've been desperate to know ever since I went to a wedding today and had a peice of Red Velvet cake for (get ready for this).... the very first time. Anyone have answers?